Say hello to a platform dedicated to industrious, yet overtasked teachers like you. Say goodbye to countless hours spent developing relevant and engaging ELA lessons. Whether you are teaching the fundamentals of grammar, creative writing skills, classic literature, or contemporary fiction, you will find thousands of activities and assessments to help you achieve a healthier work-life balance without sacrificing academic rigor.
Say hello to a platform dedicated to industrious, yet overtasked teachers like you. Say goodbye to countless hours spent developing relevant and engaging ELA lessons. Whether you are teaching the fundamentals of grammar, creative writing skills, classic literature, or contemporary fiction, you will find thousands of activities and assessments to help you achieve a healthier work-life balance without sacrificing academic rigor.
Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching the short story “The Devil and Tom Walker” by Washington Irving. A plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
This resource may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on situational irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Prepare students to go beyond general reading comprehension and develop critical thinking skills for high school with this close reading analysis worksheet covering a chapter 19 passage from Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony, personification, and situational irony
Consider themes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Facilitate the process of investigating relevant topics, documenting information gathered, and delivering formal speeches with this low-prep, standards-based research project to complement Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. The focus of the project is natural and human-influenced disasters, covering twenty topics including the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, the flu pandemic of 1918, the tri-state tornado outbreak of 1925, the Fukushima nuclear accident (2011), and Hurricane Maria (2017). A detailed scoring rubric is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Ultimately, students will perform the following tasks:
Articulate connections between a research topic and the assigned novel
Conduct research using available resources
Collect and classify reliable sources
Develop successful methods of recording information
Evaluate the credibility of source work, taking into consideration readability, date, relevance, expertise, and bias
Apply conventions of MLA formatting
Correctly site resources to avoid plagiarism
Organize information in a cohesive manner, using a note-taking system that includes summary, paraphrasing, and quoted material
Analyze, synthesize, and integrate information, generating a thoughtfully comprehensive report, free of generalities and redundancies
Present findings verbally, using their own words
Prepare students to go beyond general reading comprehension and develop critical thinking skills for high school with this close reading analysis worksheet covering a chapter 5 passage from Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the purpose of a given passage
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare two characters in context (Alex and Bri)
Apply knowledge of literary devices including onomatopoeia and oxymoron
Consider themes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Prepare students to go beyond general reading comprehension and develop critical thinking skills for high school with this close reading analysis worksheet covering a chapter 2 passage from Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the purpose of a given passage
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including hyperbole, metaphor, personification, and symbolism
Consider themes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapters 16, 17, 18, and 19 of Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian young adult fiction novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: errand, foolhardy, galvanize, glint, immaculate, immunity, merciful, parched, regiment, rigorously, scurry, trudge, vague, and wander.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Prepare students to go beyond general reading comprehension and develop critical thinking skills for high school with this close reading analysis worksheet covering a chapter 9 passage from Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Describe tone in context
Determine the purpose of a given passage
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast two characters (Alex and Harvey)
Apply knowledge of literary devices including euphemism and simile
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Prepare students to go beyond general reading comprehension and develop critical thinking skills for high school with this close reading analysis worksheet covering a chapter 13 passage from Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the purpose of a given passage
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony, metaphor, and situational irony
Consider themes in context
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Prepare students to go beyond general reading comprehension and develop critical thinking skills for high school with this close reading analysis worksheet covering a chapter 8 passage from Susan Beth Pfeffer’s dystopian novel The Dead and the Gone, the sequel to Life As We Knew It. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Describe tone in context
Determine the purpose of a given passage
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Discern the function of a particular character (Kevin) in context
Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, metaphor, and situational irony
Conduct research on a relevant topic (Yellowstone Caldera)
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Help high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Mona Gardner’s short story “The Dinner Party.” An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
This resource may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including epiphany, metaphor, simile, and situational irony
Conduct research online in order to answer questions related to plot
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching the short story “The Dinner Party” by Mona Gardner. A plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including epiphany, metaphor, simile, and situational irony
Conduct research online in order to answer questions related to plot
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Help high school students improve fluency, stamina, text comprehension, and close reading analysis of the formal elements of fiction with this set of rigorous, text-dependent questions on the allegorical short story titled “The Colomber” by Dino Buzzati. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
This resource may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By completing this activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Apply knowledge of figurative language with emphasis on simile and metaphor
Determine the meaning of a complex word as it is used in the text
Infer Stefano’s motivations for pursuing his career as a sea captain
Identify textual details that indicate the closeness of Stefano to the colomber
Determine what the phrase “temptation of the abyss” emphasizes about the protagonist’s characterization
Identify and explain an example of situational irony in the story
Explore the symbolism associated with the colomber
Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in response to analytical questioning
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate take-home assessment planning with this plot-based quiz covering Dino Buzzati’s allegorical short story titled “The Colomber.” This assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
A birthday request
A description of a colomber
The protagonist’s career choice
Advice from the protagonist’s father
Stefano’s perception of the colomber
A gift from the colomber
Qualities associated with the gift
And more
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the short story “The Colomber” by Dino Buzzati. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: dissuade, expedient, imploringly, indomitable, industrious, inexorable, intrepid, nocturnal, obstinately, ominously, patrimony, placid, scrutinize, trudge, vain, and weary.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching John Collier’s short story “The Chaser.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a craft analysis exercise, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
This resource may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Apply knowledge of satire to the plot
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including euphemism, metaphor, simile, situational irony, and foreshadowing
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching the short story “Home” by Gwendolyn Brooks. A plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.
This resource may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Contrast the characters of Helen and Maud Martha
Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor and situational irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class better prepared to discuss literature
Help high school readers explore how Edgar Allan Poe used direct description, characterization, figurative language, foreshadowing, and symbolism to develop a complex short story: “The Tell Tale Heart.” This craft analysis activity helps students go beyond general reading comprehension by making them reflect on the motivations behind the author’s word choices and narrative techniques. Delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats, this resource also helps prepare students for more meaningful classroom discussions. Through these discussions, students may evaluate peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to support claims, clarifying or challenging ideas as needed. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included.
Help high school readers explore how Nathaniel Hawthorne used literary devices such as direct description, characterization, figurative language, foreshadowing, and symbolism to develop a complex short story: “Young Goodman Brown.” This craft analysis activity helps students go beyond general reading comprehension by making them reflect on the motivations behind the author’s word choices and narrative techniques. Delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats, this resource also helps prepare students for more meaningful classroom discussions. Through these discussions, students may evaluate peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to support claims, clarifying or challenging ideas as needed. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included.
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the short story “The Call of Cthulhu” by H.P. Lovecraft. A crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: acrid, allude, archaic, befoul, brood, clamber, concede, conspicuous, corroborate, crude, cryptic, din, eccentricity, elicit, enigmatical, evoke, impertinence, imply, incessant, interminably, keenly, loathsome, noisome, perfunctory, placid, portentous, precipitous, redolent, scarcely, shudder, tangible, transient, vain, and weariness.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this set of three plot-based quizzes covering H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “The Call of Cthulhu.” This set of materials may double as guided reading handouts to promote active engagement with fiction. Answer keys and a copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The identity of the narrator
The narrator’s relation to Angell
Angell’s profession
The true cause of Angell’s death
General assumptions about the nature of Angell’s death
The narrator’s inheritance
Characteristics of the sculpture the narrator receives
The identity of a young sculptor
A general character description of Wilcox
The effects of a natural disaster
Angell’s curiosity about Wilcox
The reason Wilcox stops visiting Angell
The narrator’s attitude toward Wilcox
The collective experiences of artists and authors
Legrasse’s home base
Characteristics of the idol Legrasse possesses
The academics’ collective reaction to the idol
Professor Webb’s travels
Legrasse’s account of the cultists
Characteristics of the idol the cultists appear to worship
The cultists’ name for bizarre beings
The supposed origin of the strange beings
The current location of the bizarre beings
The manner of communication between the beings and humans
The beings’ specific messages for humanity
The cultists’ belief concerning the fate of humanity
The narrator’s belief concerning his great uncle’s death
The name of an important newspaper
The content of an article in the newspaper
The name of a ship Johansen and his peers attack
The narrator’s travels around the world
The identity of a Johansen relative whom the narrator meets
The true cause of Johansen’s death
What the narrator receives as a result of his visit to Norway
The bizarre characteristic of a city Johansen visits
The comparison between Cthulhu and a Greek mythological figure
Events leading to Briden’s death
A major decision Johansen makes
The result of the major decision
What the narrator decides to do with the records he has acquired
The narrator’s assessment of his own fate